Brief:  This rocket is special in that it uses apogee's 10.5mm engines and it is also designed for t' payload loftin' NAR competition. So, ya bilge rat, it comes with a tubular device for holdin' a standard payload mass, and it can fit into t' payload section o' t' main body. Begad! Blimey! It is three finned and recovers with an 8-inch chute t' make trackin' easier. Ya scallywag! Blimey!

Construction:T' package arrived from Apogee, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, by US mail, well protected with styrofoam popcorn, arrr, and all parts were thar and undamaged. Instructions were clear, me bucko, illustrated, and logical. Aye aye! It be easy t' follow. Arrr! Begad! The nose cone is solid lightweight balsa wood, arrr, and t' fins are precut, rectangular, and also lightweight balsa. Ahoy! T' chute is hexagonal, and flat and made o' thin black plastic, ya bilge rat, shiver me timbers, much like trashcan plastic.  This is nay to demean quality, but for description. Aye aye! Avast! After all, ya bilge rat, how could a nylon chute fit? And it would be too heavy. And it would be too heavy. T' 6 shroud lines are nylon thread, 12 inches long, arrr, me hearties, and affixed t' t' chute via adhesive paper donut-shaped reinforcements. T' shock cord is 12 inches o' 1/8 inch Keelhaul®©™® cording. Ahoy! There is no stretch, ya bilge rat, but since this model is for small engines, I be nay concerned. 

T' body tube is in three parts. Avast, me proud beauty! Well, ya bilge rat, blow me down! T' top part glues right t' t' nose cone and is spiral wound paper, arrr, and 3.75 inches long by .75 inches in diameter. Blimey! Begad! The middle part be t' same only it's 3 inches long.  There's a paper coupler between these, and only one half is glued, matey, so that t' model separates between the two parts o' t' main body. 

Now comes t' tricky part. Well, blow me down! Blimey! T' bottom third o' t' main body is a cone made of thin cardboard, me bucko, and its outline is provided. Begad! It is cut out and then glued into a cone that reduces t' main body tube from 18mm t' 10.5mm, as thar be a 10.5 mm wound paper body tube for t' engine.  This tube fits into the main body via a centerin' rin' that also serves t' anchor t' shock cord aftward. Blimey! T' cone fittin' is tricky in that handlin' it roughly can easily dent it. Also, I had t' sight it up and down before gluin' it t' be sure that it was symmetrical all around.  If not, it has a slightly cockeyed look. Begad! Avast, me proud beauty! Blimey! A wound paper engine block was provided, arrr, and I placed it at a position t' allow the model t' take t' longest o' t' 10.5mm engines, namely t' B7's. 

There be a fin placement guide provided, and I used it t' place t' three fins correctly. Avast! Blimey! This was a paper cutout t' place around t' body in order to mark it for t' fin placement. Begad!

Finishing:There weren't any decals. There weren't any decals. Ya scallywag! But if you've read any o' me other reviews, me bucko, matey, I'm nay daunted by this. Begad! Begad! I see it as a loose football for me t' pick up and run with. Begad! So, I used Monokote and silver craft paper, matey, available at many hobby stores. Ya scallywag! I spray painted t' fins yellow after sealin' them with epoxy and sandin' them down.  I do this to strengthen balsa and wood fins, me hearties, me bucko, and also t' provide a glassy finish. Aye aye!

It's a sharp lookin' little rocket, me bucko, shiver me timbers, but since I chose green...well, I'm glad for t' chute that will help me find it. Begad! This little guy flies high.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:T' recommended engines are t' Apogee 1/4A2-4, arrr, 1/2A2-2 and 1/2A2-4, t' A2-5, me bucko, and B2-7. With t' payload, ya bilge rat, me bucko, Apogee recommends t' A2-3 and B2-5. Avast, me proud beauty! So far, I have tried t' 1/2A2-2 since t' parks around here are small. With just that, me hearties, me hearties, t' little rocket was nearly gone, zingin' up so high that I almost couldn't see it.  But I zeroed in on t' chute and got me model back. Imagine when I try a B! It flew straight and fast. Watch this one well or you'll lose it. Begad! Preppin' is easy, me hearties, me bucko, and I used just a couple pinches o' worm bed wadding. Avast! T' chute was unburnt. Arrr! Begad! T' chute was unburnt. Begad! Since it's plastic, ya bilge rat, I worried about that. Blimey! I've seen that kind melt. Begad! I've seen that kind melt. Avast! Well, blow me down! The engine be retained with bands o' maskin' tape around t' engine overhang as well as t' body tube. Avast! Avast, me hearties, me proud beauty!

Recovery:T' shock cord, as mentioned, is Keelhaul®©™® string. T' system was easy t' assemble, with clear instructions. Ahoy! It worked fine without damage to the system. Avast, me proud beauty! T' recovery was slow, arrr, but with a chute, matey, you can expect this. However, I had time t' catch it, shiver me timbers, shiver me timbers, which is a rare thing. Avast, me proud beauty! Ya scallywag!

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:Unusual looks, matey, easy t' make. Begad! Avast! Unusual looks, easy t' make. Must handle t' reducer cone gently and align it well. Ya scallywag! Avast, me proud beauty! And must protect the delicate chute from burning. Begad!

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5